Gyratory crusher with a pair of interchangeable axial thrust bearings

ABSTRACT

A gyratory crusher is disclosed having a central upright rotating shaft for supporting and camming a crushing head to gyrate relative to a surrounding stationary concave. An upper portion of the shaft cams the head to gyrate by being inclined relative to a lower and vertical portion of the shaft, with a central axis of the upper portion intersecting a vertical central axis of the lower portion at a point above the shaft. Radial bearings are mounted around the upper shaft portion between the shaft and the head and radial bearings are mounted around the lower shaft portion between the shaft and a hub defined by a frame. A pair of axial thrust bearings are provided, a first such bearing being on top of the shaft and a second such bearing being beneath the shaft. The axial thrust bearings have equal diameters which are less than the outer diameter of the radial bearings. The two axial thrust bearings are identical and interchangeable, and therefore only one size axial thrust bearing need be stocked in repair parts inventory.

United States Patent [191 Kemnitz [451 May21, 1974 [75] Inventor: Robert H. Kemnitz, Appleton, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Allis-Chalmers Corporation,

Milwaukee, Wis. I

[22] Filed: Nov. 16, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 307,050

[52] U.S. Cl. 241/214 [51] Int. Cl. B02c 2/06 [58] Field of Search 241 /207-209, 241/211, 213-216 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,634,061 4/1953 Rumpel 241/214 2,468,342 4/1949 Munro 241/215 X 2,579,238 12/1951 Lippmann 241/216 X 2,590,795 3/1952 Rumpel .1 241/216 X 2,791,383 5/1957 Kjelgaard 241/207 X Primary liruminer-Grunville Y. Custer, Jr. Assistant ExaminerHoward N. Goldberg Attorney, Agent, or FirmArthur M. Streich 5 7 ABSTRACT A gyratory crusher is disclosed having a central upright rotating shaft for supporting and camming' a crushing head to gyrate relative to a surrounding stationary concave. An upper portion of the shaft cams the head to gyrate by being inclined relative to a lower and vertical portion of the shaft, with a central ax-isof the upper portion intersecting a vertical central axis of the lower portion at a point above the shaft. Radial bearings are mounted around the upper shaft portion between the shaft and the head and radial bearings are mounted around the lower shaft portion between the shaft and a hub defined by a frame. A pair of axial thrust bearings are provided, a first such bearing being on top of the shaft and a second such bearing being beneath the shaft. The axial thrust bearings have equal diameters which are less than the outer diameter of the radial bearings. The two axial thrust bearings are identical and interchangeable, and therefore only one size axial thrust bearing need be stocked in repair parts inventory.

6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures GYRATORY CRUSHER WITH A PAIR OF INTERCHANGEABLE AXIAL TIIRUST BEARINGS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to gyratory crushers and in particular to gyrator crushers having a central upright rotating shaft for supporting and camming a crushing head to gyrate in a crushing chamber.

2. Description of the Prior Art Crushers having a central upright rotating shaft supporting and camming a crushing head to gyrate in a crushing chamber are shown in prior patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 2,634,061 of 1953; U.S. Pat. No. 3,118,623 of 1964; U.S. Pat. No. 3,207,449 of 1955; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,423,033 of 1969.

Another type of crusher that has been widely used has a central upright shaft that supports a crushing head but camming action to tilt and gyrate the head in a crushing chamber is provided by rotating an eccentric sleeve mounted around the lower end of the shaft. Crushers of this type sometimes permit the central shaft to rotate (even though it is not driven to rotate) and the action of crushing and stone passing through the crushing chamber sometimes spins the central shaft. However, it is not such rotating of the shaft that gyrates the head, it is the sleeve that is driven to rotate that gyrates the head. The gyratory and tilting motion imparted to such a shaft (regardless of whether it does or does not also spin) is of such nature that a step bearing arrangement is required. A step bearing arrangement is a bearing assembly which includes a piece having a concave surface engaging a convex surface. Examples of such crushers are many but include U.S. Pat. No. 2,448,936 of 1948; U.S. Pat. No. 2,579,516 of 1951; U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,372,881 and 3,384,312 of 1968; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,481,548 of 1969.

The need for a concave-convex step bearing in a crusher utilizing an eccentric sleeve to cam a shaft, has been avoided by gyrating the crushing head without tilting, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,579,239 of 1951, U.S. Pat. No. 2,829,842 of 1958 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,396,916 of 1968; or by providing an elastomeric bearing member as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,506,204 of 1970.

It is a characteristic of the aforesaid prior art that when an axial thrust bearing is provided to transmit crushing forces from a head to a shaft, it is a different bearing (in size and/or type) than an axial thrust bearing provided to transmitsuch forces from the shaft to the frame. Furthermore, when such axialthrust bearings are antifriction bearings, they may also be undesirably large and costly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention includes among its objects, providing a new and improved crusher utilizing a pair of relatively small and inexpensive axial thrust bearings, which may be identical and therefore interchangeable, and requiring but one size and type axial thrust bearing to be stocked in repair parts inventory.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention a gyratory crusher is provided with a central rotating shaft for supporting and camming a crushing head to gyrate relative to'a surrounding stationary concave. An upper portion of the shaft cams the head to gyrate by being inclined relative to a lower and vertical portion of the shaft, with a central axis of the upper portion intersecting a vertical central axis of the lower portion at a point above the shaft. Radial thrust bearings are mounted around the upper shaft portion between the shaft and the head and radial bearings are mounted around the lower shaft portion between the shaft and a hub defined by a frame. A pair of axial thrust bearings are provided, a first such bearing being on top of the shaft and a second such bearingbeing beneath the shaft. The axial thrust bearings have equal diameters which are less than the outer diameter of the radial bearings. The two axial thrust bearings are identical and interchangeable and therefore only one size axial thrust bearing need be stocked in repair parts inventory.

Other features and objects of the invention that have been attained will appear from the more detailed description to follow with reference to an embodiment of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 11 of the accompanying drawing shows a vertical sectional view of a crusher according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 11-11 in FIG. 1 and viewing the structure in the direction indicated by arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, there is shown a gyratory crusher having a frame generally indicated at 10 and including a lower frame section 12 and an upper-frame section 14. The lower frame section 12 includes a fixed vertical hub 15 having an upper portion 16 and a lower portion 17. The lower hub portion 17 is provided with a bottom member 18 which encloses the bottom of the lower hub portion 17.

The upper frame section 14 is open upwardly and has secured therein a concave 20. Concave 20 is supported by the upper frame section 14 coaxially above hub 15. A generally conical crushing head 22 projects upwardly to concave 20 to define therebetween a crushing chamber 24. The crushing head 22 is supported (by means which will be described) and arranged with a central axis x-y through head 22, being inclined relative to and intersecting with a vertical axis x-z central of hub 15 and concave 20. The axis x-y and the axis x-z intersect at a point x above the crushing head 22. The crushing head 22 has a depending annular flange 26 coaxial with the central head axis x-y defining a partially enclosed V and downwardly open space 28.

A head supporting and camming shaft 30 is provided which has a lower portion 32 joumaled in hub 15 coaxially thereto by radial bearings 34, 36. For convenience in assembly, the upper hub portion 16 may be made in 2 parts 16a and 16b, connected as by a bolt 16c. The lower portion 32 of shaft 30 has a bottom surface 37 perpendicular to axis x-z.

Shaft 30 has an upper portion 38 which projects upwardly into the space 28 defined within annular flange 26 of head 22. The upper portion 38 of shaft 30, is inclined relative to the lower shaft portion 32, with the upper portion 38 being coaxial to the head axis x-y and having a top surface 40 perpendicular to the axis x-y.

Radial bearings 42,44 are mounted between the outer circumference of upper shaft portion 38 and the inner circumference of flange 26. The radial bearings 42, 44, as well as the radial bearings 34, 36, are shown as antifriction roller bearings.

A pair of axial thrust bearings 50, 52 are provided. A first of the axial thrust bearings 50 is located on top of shaft 30 between the top surface 40 of the upper shaft portion 38 and the crushing head 22. A second of the axial thrust bearings 52 is located beneath shaft 30 between the bottom surface 37 of lower shaft portion 32 and a spacer 54 carried by bottom member 18. The axial thrust bearings 50, 52 are shown as antifriction roller bearings having rollers 56, 58. As shown in FIG. 2 the rollers '56 of bearing 50 are arranged in an annular array (as are the rollers 58 of bearing 52) and as shown in FIG. 1 the outer diameter of the array of rollers 56, 58 is substantially equal to the diameter of the shaft 30. The upper axial thrust bearing 50 has upper and lower load surfaces 60, 62 that are flat and parallel to each other, and an outer circumferential surface 64 of a diameter less than the outer circumferential surface of any of the radial bearings 42, 44, 34, and 36. Likewise, the lower axial thrust bearing 52 has upper and lower load surfaces 70, 72 that are flat and parallel to eachother, and an outer circumferential surface 74 of a diameter less than the outer circumferential surface of any of the radial bearings 34, 36, 42, 44. Preferably the .upper and lower axial thrust bearings 50, 52 are identical, and indeed they are so shown in FIG. 1.

To drive the crusher a drive gear 80, driven by any suitable source of power, engages a driven gear 82 connected to the lower portion 32 of shaft 30.

If desired, an arrangement such as shown in my US. Pat. No. 3,396,916 may be provided for adjusting the spacing between concave and head 22.

In the operation of the crusher that has been described, power applied to drive gear 80 and rotate driven gear 82, rotates shaft 30 about axis x-z. As shaft 30 rotates, with lower shaft portion 32 turning concentrically in hub 15, the upper shaft portion 38 will be moved so that axis x-y transcribes a cone about a central axis which is axis x-z. This motion of upper shaft portion 38 provides the crushing action of head 22 in crushing chamber 24. Crushing forces which are the result of stone being broken between head 22 and concave 20, have thrust components transmitted through both the radial bearings 42, 44 and axial thrust bearing 50, to shaft 30. The forces applied to shaft 30 have components transmitted through both radial bearings 34, 36 and axial thrust bearing 58, to the crusher frame section 12. This arrangement permits the utilization of a pair of relatively small and inexpensive axial thrust bearings which, located and constructed in the manner that has been described, may be identical and therefore interchangeable and requiring but one size and type of axial thrust bearing to be stocked in repair parts inventory.

From the foregoing detailed description of the present invention it has been shown how the objects of the present invention have been attained in a preferred manner. However, modification and equivalents of the disclosed concepts such as readily occur to those skilled in the art are intended to be included in the scope of this invention. Thus, the scope of the invention is intended to be limited only by the scope of the claims such as are or may hereafter be, appended hereto.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a gyratory crusher having a central upright rotating shaft joumaled in a frame for supporting and camming a crushing head to gyrate relative to a surrounding stationary concave carried by the frame above the head:

a. A lower portion of the shaft being vertical and an upper portion of the shaftbeing inclined with a central axis of the upper portion intersecting a centi'lal axis of the lower portion at a point above the s aft;

b. radial thrust bearings mounted around the upper shaft portion between the shaft and the head;

c. a pair of identical axial thrust bearings, with a first of the axial thrust bearings being on top of the shaft between the shaft and the head, and a second of the axial thrust bearings being beneath the shaft and carried by the frame; and

d. the axial thrust bearings having an outer circumferential diameter which is less than the outer circumferential diameter of the radial thrust bearings.

2. A crusher according to claim 1 in which both the axial thrust bearings have upper and lower load surfaces that are flat and parallel to each other.

3. A crusher according to claim 2 in which both axial thrust bearings and the radial bearings are antifriction roller bearings.

4. A gyratory crusher comprising, a frame with a fixed vertical hub and a bottom member closing the lower end of the hub, an annular crushingconcave carried by the frame coaxially above the hub, a generally conical crushing head projecting upwardly into the concave with a central axis inclined relative to and intersecting a vertical axis central of the hub, and having 21 depending annular flange coaxial with the central head axis, a rotary head supporting and camming shaft with a lower portion joumaled in the hub coaxial to the hub, an upper portion projecting upwardly within the depending annular head flange and inclined to be coaxial to the inclined head, and having a top surface perpendicular to the axis of the head and upper shaft portion, and the shaft having a bottom surface perpendicular to the axis of the hub and lower shaft portion, cylindrical radial bearing means between the inner circumference of the depending annular head flan e and the outer circumference of the upper shaft portion, a first axial thrust bearing above the shaft between the top surface of the upper shaft portion and the crushing head, a second axial thrust bearing below the shaft and between the bottom surface of the lower shaft portion and a surface associated with the bottom member below the hub, and both axial thrust bearings have upper and lower load surfaces that are flat and parallel to each other and outer circumferential surfaces of a diameter less than outer circumferential surfaces of the radial bearing means.

5. A crusher according to claim 4 in which the first and second axial thrust bearings are antifriction roller bearings with rollers in an annular array of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the lower portion of the shaft which is joumaled in the frame hub.

6. A crusher according to claim 5 in which the first and second axial thrust bearings have equal diameters, equal axial dimensions and are interchangeable between the axial thrust bearing locations above and below the shaft. 

1. In a gyratory crusher having a central upright rotating shaft journaled in a frame for supporting and camming a crushing head to gyrate relative to a surrounding stationary concave carried by the frame above the head: a. A lower portion of the shaft being vertical and an upper portion of the shaft being inclined with a central axis of the upper portion intersecting a central axis of the lower portion at a point above the shaft; b. radial thrust bearings mounted around the upper shaft portion between the shaft and the head; c. a pair of identical axial thrust bearings, with a first of the axial thrust bearings being on top of the shaft between the shaft and the head, and a second of the axial thrust bearings being beneath the shaft and carried by the frame; and d. the axial thrust bearings having an outer circumferential diameter which is less than the outer circumferential diameter of the radial thrust bearings.
 2. A crusher according to claim 1 in which both the axial thrust bearings have upper and lower load surfaces that are flat and parallel to each other.
 3. A crusher according to claim 2 in which both axial thrust bearings and the radial bearings are antifriction roller bearings.
 4. A gyratory crusher comprising, a frame with a fixed vertical hub and a bottom member closing the lower end of the hub, an annular crushing concave carried by the frame coaxially above the hub, a generally conical crushing head projecting upwardly into the concave with a central axis inclined relative to and intersecting a vertical axis central of the hub, and having a depending annular flange coaxial with the central head axis, a rotary head supporting and camming shaft with a lower portion journaled in the hub coaxial to the hub, an upper portion projecting upwardly within the depending annular head flange and inclined to be coaxial to the inclined head, and having a top surface perpendicular to the axis of the head and upper shaft portion, and the shaft having a bottom surface perpendicular to the axis of the hub and lower shaft portion, cylindrical radial bearing means between the inner circumference of the depending annular head flange and the outer circumference of the upper shaft portion, a first axial thrust bearing above the shaft between the top surface of the upper shaft portion and the crushing head, a second axial thrust bearing below the shaft and between the bottom surface of the lower shaft portion and a surface associated with the bottom member below the hub, and both axial thrust bearings have upper and lower load surfaces that are flat and parallel to each other and outer circumferential surfaces of a diameter less than outer circumferential surfaces of the radial bearing means.
 5. A crusher according to claim 4 in which the first and second axial thrust bearings are antifriction roller bearings with rollers in an annular array of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the lower portion of the shaft which is journaled in the frame hub.
 6. A crusher according to claim 5 in which the first and second axial thrust bearings have equal diameters, equal axial dimensions and are interchangeable between the axial thrust bearing locations above and below the shaft. 